Seepage of water: How to prevent water seepage in walls

[ecis2016.org] Seepage of water is one of the serious concerns for home owners in India. We look at ways to detect and treat water seepage in wall issues at your home

Seepage of water is water seeping through wall or water flowing from one place to another because of presence of small holes due to any breakage or because of porous materials. Seepage in wall is one of the most common structural issues, faced by most of the home owners in India.

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Seepage of water

The damage caused by seepage of water is almost irreparable and has to be cured every season through repainting. However, troubles of water seepage in wall could be avoided if proper precautions are taken during the construction. This will not just save a lot of money but will also keep the structural strength of your construction intact. Here is everything you need to know about seepage in wall and how to stop water leakage from wall in India?

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Water seepage causes

Seepage in wall may be because of use of inferior raw materials during construction or not taking the water proofing measures seriously during the process of construction.  As the external walls of the concrete structure are exposed to the weather, prolonged contact with the rainwater can lead to cracks in the outer covering, giving way to water and moisture seepage in wall. This seepage in wall makes the walls damp. If seepage in wall is not treated in time, this dampness seeps into the interiors, ruining the wall paint.

Some of the other reasons that result in seepage in wall are:

1. Leakage in sewage lines, bathroom, kitchen or the water tank can lead to seepage in wall.

2. Leakage in lines which are for water supply, bathroom sanitary fittings and drainage pipes can lead to seepage in wall.

3. Water leaking in the bathroom tiles can lead to seepage in wall.

4. Faulty plumbing works in a one’s house can lead to severe seepage in wall.

5. Absence of plastering in the outer walls of buildings can lead to seepage in wall.

6. Ground moisture that rises up leads to seepage in wall and floors.

7. Absence of drainage pipes leading to water accumulation can on the roof or balcony can lead to seepage in wall.

8. Seepage in walls could be due to faulty window frames or liners too. Broken caulking at the window seams, insufficient paint seal along the edges of the glass and cracked putty between panes, can all lead to water trickling and cause seelan or dampness.

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Seepage in wall: Ill effects of it in your house

Seepage in wall has damaging effects both on the appearance of the house and your health. While a house with heavy seepage in walls look ugly, it also results in dampened walls and floors, thus affecting your health. Seepage in wall spoils the paints, the wall papers and even the tiles in severe cases. This also actually spreads to ruin the furniture (wooden especially) is used heavily at home. Dampened walls also result in growth of fungus and moulds, which again impact your health. Seepage in wall is not good for the longevity of the structure of the house as it eventually impacts the foundation of the house including the iron bar, the bricks etc.

The negative impact of leakage and dampness as per Vastu

According to Vastu Shastra, water leakage in the kitchen and bathroom signifies financial loss. Leakage of water from the walls, broken pipeline, dripping taps, or overhead water tanks within the home, must be treated at the earliest, as they can bring financial loss. Damp walls indicate the draining of favourable energy. As per Vastu, leakage or seepage can also affect spiritual growth. It is believed that continuous leakage from the roof can cause unnecessary clashes between the family members. Dampness in the southwest direction of a home is not considered auspicious. So, treat dampness at the earliest, for positive energies and overall well-being.

Seepage in wall: How to hide it?

Seepage in wall makes your house look ugly. If you are looking at treating the seepage in wall but want to still conceal it so that it doesn’t look ugly, we give you some tricks.

1)  If there is seepage in wall at the bottom, or lower half of the wall, you can hide it by placing a huge sofa. Be mindful that you don’t place the sofa sticking to the wall and also the material of the sofa is neither wood nor iron as they can get affected by the seepage in wall.

2)  If seepage in wall is in the upper half, you can place a wall painting frame to hide it.

3)  You can also treat that portion where seepage in wall exists and cover it with wallpaper.

4)  Nowadays, vertical gardens are trending and it can also help you to cover the seepage in wall.

Seepage in wall: How to stop water leakage from wall in India?

ecis2016.org News got in touch with Aarav Master, a Jaipur-based structural engineer, to understand how seepage in wall could be avoided and treated.

How to detect water seepage in wall at home?

• Look for water spots-seepage of water on the interior walls of the home.
• Check for the source of water seepage in walls. Seepage of water could be because of leaking water tanks, broken water pipelines or old plumbing issues.
• Ask your structural engineer to check if there is a gap between the walls of your home and the next home, as water seepage in wall is possible through this gap too.
• Another prominent reason for water seepage is the poor quality of materials used for plastering the exteriors. Talk to the contractor or your builder to understand this aspect and the construction quality of your house to prevent seepage in wall.

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Seepage in wall: How to treat?

Here are tips from Master, to solve the issue of seepage of water:

Seepage in wall: What to do for interior walls?

Seepage in interior wall begins near the windows or door or the ceiling as these are the places where cracks are seen first. Repair the cracks and treat the dampened areas with water proof material and then paint it. Next, build cavity walls as they prevent the seepage in wall from exterior wall to interior wall.

One of the main reasons for seepage of water through to the interiors of your home, is the use of poor quality paint on the walls. These paints allow the moisture to seep through the concrete resulting in seepage in wall and thus damage the walls. Currently, the market is flooded with high-quality paints that are water-resistant and contain elements such as silicon that provide extra strength to areas which are most prone to water seepage. Opt for better quality paints after researching and consulting with your structural engineer, to avoid a lifelong hassle of seasonal renovation owing to seepage in wall.

How to prevent water seepage through walls if the construction is already done and there are cracks on the walls? You can use mortar to seal these cracks. It is a dense material which is also waterproof. For damaged roof or wall tiles, white cement is the best possible option, as it can prevent chipping of paint in a humid climate.

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Seepage in wall: What to do for exterior walls?

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Exposure of exterior walls to harsh weather use of poor quality raw materials results in seepage in wall. These can be treated by:

1. All the exposed surfaces, such as external walls and boundary walls, should be covered with cement plaster mixed with waterproofing additives, to prevent dampness and seepage in walls.
2. Using good quality water resistant paints.
3. Process of grunting to be done to waterproof pipes so that they don’t leak.
4. Repairing outside cracks immediately to prevent on manage the seepage in wall.

Seepage in wall: How to treat ceilings?

The primary reason for seepage in wall through ceilings is the accumulation of water on the roof. So treat any crack or blocked pipe in the terrace of the roof to prevent leakage in wall. If living in an apartment, a seepage in ceiling may be because of a seepage in bathroom of the residents staying in the house above yours. Get it inspected and treated.

To prevent seepage on top floors or in independent houses, ensure that the terrace floor has a slope that does not allow water logging after rains or stagnant water due to leaking or overflowing water storage tanks. Check the terrace floor and parapet wall of the roof and fill up all the cracks present. Then, paint the parapet wall with waterproof paint.

A proper waterproofing solution safeguards the home from water leakages and dampness. There are various ways of waterproofing a roof surface. Opt for the best that suits the house construction.

Seepage in wall: How to treat bathroom leakage?

Seepage in wall in bathroom can be because of leakage in taps or sanitary fittings. So, mend any leak that exists. Also, gaps in the tiles and cracks on the floor or wall can cause leakage and these should be treated with mortar, cement or other water proof materials.

How to treat floor seepage?

Floor seepage occurs when there is moisture that rises on the ground and spoils the tiles. Use water proof materials for repairing the floor and while doing that make sure that there are no gaps between the tiles on the floor.

During construction, always opt for sturdy water pipes and ensure that the joints are well-sealed. Check for leakages in the water tanks and plumbing every six months and conduct an inspection of the drainage system. You can also hire professionals, who can use proper tools to identify and recommend customised solutions for seepage on wall.

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Treatment of seepage before repainting

Repainting is often considered a solution to get rid of wall seepage. However, repainting does not treat the root cause of the seepage. When the seepage is severe, it causes water to drip from the walls and ceiling. It cannot be fixed with putty and paint only. While this temporarily helps to get rid of damp walls, the solution is not permanent. Nowadays, high-quality paints and painting procedures can help treat dampness on walls. For this, dirt and debris have to be removed, cracks filled and waterproof putties should be applied. New range of paints available today, are resistant to water and contain silicon that offers the walls extra protection against water seepage.

Seepage in wall: Tips to prevent

Source: Pinterest

• Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to ensure proper ventilation. This is to expel the moisture from the interiors and prevent seepage in wall.

Source: Pinterest

• Avoid drying laundry indoors, as it creates a lot of moisture within the home. You can also use dehumidifiers, to remove the moisture from the air thus preventing water seepage in wall.
• Avoid painting the wall during winters, as this can create a lot of dampness inside the walls and result in water seepage in wall. Always opt for painting tasks when you can keep the doors and windows open.

• Always make sure that the steam created inside the kitchen is expelled in the shortest possible time, to avoid dampness on the walls which may result in water seeping through the wall.

• Ensure the window frame inclination enables overflowing rainwater to drain out and not lead to water seepage on the walls. Waterproof the windows before the monsoon. Rubber, foam and vinyl are used as weatherstrips on windows. Choose a material that works best for your window material.

• Keep houseplants like Boston fernsl, peace lily, areca palm and spider plants as they help in removing moisture from the air. These plants reduce humidity and are air purifiers that help to improve indoor air quality.

FAQs

(With inputs from Purnima Goswami Sharma)

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